Novak Djokovic was all business today with Sergiy Stakhovsky. The Ukrainian eventually retired with a left knee injury after losing the first set and trailing 1-4 in the second set.

The Serb will advance to play Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland in the second round. Chiudinelli barely got past Frenchman Michael Llodra, who had a slow start, but the Swiss eventually prevailed 6-1 6-7(5) 7-6(6) after a 2 hour 36 minutes of battle. Djokovic won his last meeting with Chiudinelli this year in the second round of the Australian Open.

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-2 4-1 RET. (left knee)
6 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Q Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 1-6 7-6(0) 7-6(5)
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. 7 Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 6-3 6-3
Q Marsel Ilhan (TUR) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-1 6-4
Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) def. Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-1 6-7(5) 7-6(6)
WC Thiemo de Bakker (NED) def. LL Jan Hajek (CZE) 7-6(5) 6-3

Doubles First Round
1 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. J. Tipsarevic (SRB)/V. Troicki (SRB) 7-6(1) 6-1
2 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. WC J. Huta Galung (NED)/I. Sijsling (NED) 6-3 6-2
4 C. Kas (GER)/D. Norman (BEL) def. I. Ljubicic (CRO)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-1 7-6(2)
F. Lopez (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) def. M. Damm (CZE)/F. Polasek (SVK) 6-4 7-6(3)

Wednesday’s Order of Play

(Image: ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament)

Thomaz Bellucci and Sergiy Stakhoysky turned out to be no trouble at all because they both lost today. Federico Gil survived a three setter against Alberto Martin, so he lives to cause trouble another day. He will play Ivan Ljubicic in the next round, who took care of Arnaud Clement in three sets. The two players have never met in an ATP event.

Monday’s Results
Qualifying Third Round
Santiago Ventura (ESP) def. Carlos Poch-Gradin (ESP) 6-3 6-1
Flavio Cipolla (ITA) def. Lamine Ouahab (ALG) 7-6(9) 4-0 Ret’d
Olivier Marach (AUT) def. Olivier Patience (FRA) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-1
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. Boris Pashanki (SRB) 6-1 6-2

Singles First Round
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 8 Arnaud Clement (FRA) 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4
4 Victor Hanescu (ROU) def. Steve Darcis (BEL) 6-4 7-5
5 Florent Serra (FRA) def. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3 6-3
Frederico Gil (POR) def. Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-3 3-6 7-6(4)
Ivan Navarro (ESP) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 7-5 4-2 Ret’d wrist

Doubles First Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/ P. Hanley (AUS) def. O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) 6-3 6-7(5) 10-6

Tuesday's Matches
Singles First Round
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. WC Rabie Chaki (MAR)
2 Rainer Schulettler (GER) vs. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP)
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. WC Reda El Amrani (MAR)
6 Marc Gicquel (FRA) vs. Kristof Vliegen (BEL)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) vs. WC Mehdi Ziadi (MAR)
Potito Starace (ITA) vs. Oscar Hernandez (ESP)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs.Teimuraz GABASHVILI (RUS)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) vs. 7 Christophe Rochus (BEL)
Santiago Ventura (ESP) vs. Oliver Marach (AUT)
Nicolas Devilder (FRA) vs. Daniel Koellerer (AUT)
Mischa Zverev (GER) vs. Flavio Cipolla (ITA)

Doubles First Round
J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) vs. T. Gabashvili (RUS)/S. Stakhovsky (UKR)
R. Bopanna (IND)/L/ Zovko (CRO) vs. T. Bellucci/E. Butorac
F. Gil (POR)/ H. Tecau (ROU) vs. M. Gicquel (FRA)/F. Serra(FRA)
Y. Allegro (SUI)/A. Clement (FRA) vs. C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED)

Tuesday's Order of Play

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(Image: El Khiat)

City: Casablanca, Morocco
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Gilles Simon
2008 Doubles Champions: Albert Montanes/Santiago Ventura

Gilles Simon will not defend his title and will take a much needed break from the tour. Igor Andreev and Ivan Ljubicic will most likely fill the void. Juan Carlos Ferrero returns from being out with an injury, so let’s hope he advances deep in the draw because he needs the points. Also, look out for Thomaz Bellucci, Sergiy Stakhovsky and Frederico Gil as possible troublemakers.

On the doubles side, Albert Montanes and Santiago Ventura will defend their doubles title. They will have to contend with the top Euro teams - Kubot/Marach, Kas Wassen, and Aspelin/Hanley.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday’s Matches
Qualifying Third Round
Santiago Ventura (ESP) vs. Carlos Poch-Gradin (ESP)
Flavio Cipolla (ITA) vs. Lamine Ouahab (ALG)
Olivier Patience (FRA) vs. Olivier Marach (AUT)
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) vs. Boris Pashanki (SRB)

Singles First Round
Arnaud Clement (FRA) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Florent Serra (FRA) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
Victor Hanescu (ROU) vs. Steve Darcis (BEL)
Alberto Martin (ESP) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
Ivan Navarro (ESP) vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)

Doubles First Round
O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/ P. Hanley (AUS)

Monday’s Order of Play

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(image: AP)